Allied Irish Bank

Synopsis

Does the strategic credibility of an effective HR function derive from the standing of the function itself or the team leading it? Mike Lewis, head of strategic human resources at the AIB Group (Allied Irish Bank), drew on his own line management and consultancy experience in leading a team which re-established the authority of HR in Ireland's leading international banking and financial services company.

Fact File

Company:                      Allied Irish Bank plc / AIB Group

Sector:                           Financial services

Annual turnover:            €3,176 million (2003)

Total workforce:            25,500 in over 800 offices worldwide

HR staff:                       560 (40 in Group function) including locally reporting staff.

Strategy Alignment Summary

Corporate Goals (1997)

To reposition HR to:

-  Increase staff motivation and commitment

-  Align people and culture to the business strategy

-  Shift the focus from administration to provide more strategic HR support to the business

-  Centralize HR activities to achieve better efficiency and consistency in the services offered to AIB divisions

-  Increase customer and shareholder value.

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